Thank you, Jane, Flora, et al.
United Kingdom | Jun 2 - Jun 16, 2023

Ken
Ken F.
Garland, TX | Reviewed on Jul 01, 2023

Jane, Flora and a few others on this team listened well to our requests, were solution-minded when last minute group tour changes outside of their control were required and patiently answered our questions mid-trip. They made the overall tour planning a very positive experience.

Hotel Reviews
Wheatlands Lodge Guesthouse (Adults Only)
Windermere,

This Lodge has a beautiful yard and garden, open for the guests to enjoy. It was in walking distance to restaurants and activities in the town of Windermere. Mike and Lynne were gracious hosts and served wonderful breakfasts. We had a very comfortable room with a panoramic view of the backyard and gardens.

Authenticity & Character
Clean and welcoming. Lovely older house but well maintained and up-to-date inside.
Location
In town and off of the main street so it was very quiet.
Staff
Personal interaction with the guests. Lynne and Mike remembered our preferences.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Resident Victoria
London

This hotel was really close to Buckingham Palace which made it easy to visit many different places. The staff was super friendly and helpful. Jason and Bianca were especially personable and helpful and had a wonderful attitude every time we saw them. It is an intimate and very quiet hotel off the beaten path. It made for a great home-base for several nights while we explored London.

Authenticity & Character
It is an intimate and very quiet hotel off the beaten path.
Location
Close to many activities and sites. Easy to catch buses and cabs as needed.
Staff
Jason and Bianca were especially personable and helpful and had a wonderful attitude every time we saw them.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Grand, York
North Yorkshire

Truly a grand place to stay. The staff were very professional and welcoming. They made it very easy to check in .

Authenticity & Character
It was really a pleasant building and a very clean and spacious room. The bed was very comfortable.
Location
Two blocks from the train station and easy walking distance to the walled city.
Staff
Warmly greeted us and very helpful in getting us settled in. They went out of their way to help celebrate a 70th birthday with a wonderful tray of chocolates.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Angel's Share Hotel
New Town, Edinburgh

West facing windows and no air flow or air conditioning during a particularly hot spell. A few issues with the plumbing that did not get fully addressed. Street noise and uncomfortable bed were a point of concern.

Location
Close walking distance to castle, museums and even food choices.
Staff
Staff were really friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
SCENERY AND SPIRES IN ONE DAY From London
SCENERY AND SPIRES IN ONE DAY From London
London

Too much bus travel and too little time at the sights. Disclaimer: we had to drive from London to get to these locations, when originally, we were supposed to be located in Oxford itself. The locations themselves were interesting and well worth seeing..

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was skilled and the guide was knowledgeable,
Transport
Too cramped and the bus was completely full.
England in One Day - Stonehenge, Bath, Stratford & The Cotswolds
England in One Day - Stonehenge, Bath, Stratford & The Cotswolds
London

Too much bus time, too little destination time. There was definitely too little time in Bath, although the tour guide made a point of walking with just the two of us up to the Circus and the Crescent, with little time to spare! The tour guide was very well-informed. We only had time to go to Shakespeare's school at Stratford upon Avon and didn't get to spend any time seeing the sights of the town itself.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was very competent. Guide was very informed and we appreciated the effort he made to walk us up to the Circus and the Royal Crescent.
Transport
Just too much driving time in a cramped bus.
Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle
Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh

A really great way to rest after walking up to the castle on a hot day. Presentation of the tea was so lovely as well as everything tasted great.

Quality of Experience
No waiting line. That day, at least for us, there was flexibility in the time (we arrived a little early).
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yorktour Evening Express: Small Group Early Evening Walking Tour
Yorktour Evening Express: Small Group Early Evening Walking Tour
York

Lovely tour of York. Shared history in an interesting way. Loved the background info about all the different conquerors and influences on York.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour
History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour
Edinburgh

Covered so much ground with a very funny and knowledgeable guide. Saw things we wouldn't have known to look for by going on this tour. We would highly recommend this tour as a great groundwork for seeing Edinburgh.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria
Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria
Edinburgh

Great tour guide! Paul from Scotland via Spain had a wealth of knowledge and he was not afraid to share it. Small bus instead of a full-size bus and a nice group of tourists. Alnwick Castle woodwork was breathtaking as well as the gardens. Holy Island was fascinating but we just didn't have enough time there. There definitely wasn't enough time to walk to the castle itself.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The morning of the trip we were notified by KimKim that the Holy Island part was cancelled (maybe because of the tide) but our guide adjusted the trip so we were able to make it to both castles.
Transport
It was unseasonably warm and there was no air conditioning or even a fan. Guide/driver tried to adjust but equipment wasn't working.
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Jul 03, 2023

Thank you for taking the time to review your recent trip with us. The feedback is extremely important to us to enable us to strive to provide the ultimate service. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you both. All the best from the team.